Midseason Status Report: Help Dolphins Need New Players For Shula Team

October 30, 1986|By Brian Schmitz of The Sentinel Staff

The Miami Dolphins, facing the unfamiliar prospect of missing the playoffs, are in the easiest stretch of their schedule at midseason. Trouble is, the way the Dolphins have been playing, no game is easy.

The Dolphins (3-5) are off to their worst start since Don Shula took over as coach in 1970. He has had a few other rough seasons -- 6-8 in 1976, his only losing season -- but this year ''ranks right up there,'' he said.

What has gone sour for a team that made the playoffs the last three seasons and played in the Super Bowl only two years ago against San Francisco?

What has happened to a team that last season finished 12-4 and handed the Chicago Bears, the eventual Super Bowl champions, their only defeat?

Plenty.

''We've been doing all the things that losing teams do,'' Shula said.

In the past Shula always has found a way to help his team overcome adversity. But he has found himself facing something he cannot change with a toot of a whistle: his personnel.

Shula can work on improving the major weaknesses in his team -- defense and running game -- from week to week. But those are quick fixes. He can't change the names on the uniforms.

It is going to take time -- through either a supplement of new talent by way of the draft or trades -- to make Miami a formidable power again. A Shula team.

Shula has not written off this season. But after eight games, the Dolphins still are floundering. They have yet to beat a contender, much less put a complete game together.

Their next three games are against Houston on Sunday, at Cleveland and at Buffalo. They hope to be 6-5 by the time the New York Jets, who they trail by four games in the AFC East, come to town Nov. 24. Miami has a tough finish, playing Atlanta, New Orleans, the Los Angeles Rams and New England.

The Dolphins can not afford to lose another game to have a shot at a wild-card berth.

The root of Miami's problems rests with the defense. No news bulletin there. Its inability to control the opposition has placed stress on an offense that can move the ball effectively only by throwing it.

For the last two seasons the Dolphins have overcome the shortcomings of their defense simply by outscoring the opposition. It's the San Diego Chargers Syndrome.

But NFL defenses are disregarding Miami's weak running game and merely sending everybody but the assistant coaches after Dan Marino. Even with his hair-trigger release, Marino has found little time to throw short, let alone deep. The right side of the line has been shaky because of injuries.

The Dolphins still lead the NFL in offense (3,017 yards) and are scoring 24.7 points per game. But the defense has allowed 3,000 yards, 233 points and is ranked 27th in the league. With only one firm leg to stand on, the 1986 Dolphins have a chance to break the team record of 407 points allowed in 1967. The defensive personnel has changed dramatically since 1984, the year Miami went 14-2 and met the 49ers in the Super Bowl. Remember ''The Killer Bees?''

''They have a lot of new personnel on their defense, and any time that happens you're going to have some problems,'' veteran Raiders guard Charley Hannah said after Los Angeles beat Miami, 30-28, this season. ''There is some talent there -- like that No. 56 Offerdahl -- but this isn't the Dolphins defense we're used to seeing.''

Baumhower, a former All-Pro who sat out all of last season with a knee injury, is not the player he used to be. Also, he is 31.

With a slow-footed Baumhower and two youngsters, T.J. Turner and George Little, the defensive line has been a shambles.

''What we did was just attack them left, right and up the middle. It didn't matter,'' Allen said.

The Dolphins' defensive front has been unable to put any pressure on the quarterback, making life miserable for linebackers and defensive backs. Miami's sack leader is Hugh Green with four, and he was ruled out for the season with a knee injury five weeks ago.

The secondary is aggressive but slow. Cornerback Don McNeal, once its leader, has had at least five major injuries to his legs during his career. He has been beaten deep repeatedly but must play because Miami has no other experienced players.

Miami's long-term success also has been its undoing. The Dolphins seldom get the pick of the litter in the draft. The last player drafted who became a dominant defensive performer for Miami was A.J. Duhe in 1984. Duhe, however, was forced to retire in his prime last year because of injuries.